Senior Catherine Townsend is redefining what it means to be a student-athlete. Participating in two different varsity sports and being an International Baccalaureate student, she remains busy throughout the school year. On top of these undertakings, she is also an active member of SALT (Student Athlete Leadership Team), demonstrating her commitment to both academic excellence and extracurricular engagement. Townsend’s remarkable dedication and time management skills have not only earned her recognition in the athletic realm but have also set an example for her peers, showcasing the power of determination and balance in the pursuit of being a well-rounded individual.
Despite her raw talent, the beginning of her athletic career – which came in 7th grade at Sutton Middle School – was unplanned. She had originally tried out for the school’s production of ‘Mama Mia.’ Unfortunately, She did not get the role, but this prompted her to try out for track. Tryouts consisted of a two-mile run, on which she blew everyone away with her natural talent. Townsend immediately fell in love with the sport. At her first meet of the season, she won, and since then, she has remained on top. “I wasn’t expecting to be good at cross country since I didn’t have much prior experience with running, but I knew I loved it immediately,” she said.
Being the dedicated athlete she is, Townsend attends cross-country practice every day after school. This consists of five to six treks twice a week and 400-800m sprints for the rest of the week. On Saturdays, Townsend wakes up for meets at 5:00 am before the competition starts at around 8:30 am. On weekends after meets, She enjoys hiking and hanging out with friends. Townsend also has a job at the well-known West Paces running store ‘West Stride.’ “Although running is a big part of my life, I like to take enough time away from it so it doesn’t become my entire life,” said Townsend
Cross Country easily translates into distance events in Track for Townsend. She participates in the 1600m, 800m, 3200m and 4×4, in the spring. Townsend enjoys track meets more because events are shorter. She also enjoys getting to spend more time with friends during meet days. “Cross country helps me prepare for track because I get more of an aerobic base, and then I am able to go a little faster during track season,” She said.
Catherine Townsend has developed many skills over the years when it comes to developing balance. Townsend tries her best to finish as much work as possible in school in order to optimize her time on the track. While her commitment to her education is commendable, it often means sacrificing precious hours of sleep to meet those relentless deadlines. This relentless pursuit of academic success is even more challenging during her senior year in high school, as she finds herself grappling with the additional demands of college applications. Despite the sleepless nights and the stress that often accompanies this journey, Townsend’s determination and resilience shine through as she strives to optimize her chances for a bright future. “Working hard alongside my teammates makes the process of training for races so much better and more enjoyable,” said Townsend.
Catherine Townsend is an example of what it means to be a well-rounded student. Her dedication, resilience, and commitment to both her academics and sports pursuits are commendable and serve as inspiration to others.
